Glassworking machine



Jan, 10, 1950 .1. s. HARKER GLASS WORKING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1945 ATTORNEY JOHN SHAPKER BY Jan. 10, 1950 J. s. HARKER GLASS WORKING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1943 INVENTOR.

JOHN $.H2RRKER /fiuyz 0 0 ATORNEY Jan. w, WW .1. s. HARKER 2,494,337

GLASS WORKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 194; a Shets-Sheet s Jan. 1Q, 1950 J. s. HARKER 2,494,337

GLASS WORKING MACHINE 'Filed Sept. 10 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JON S. BARKER ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1950 .1; s. HARKER GLASS WORKING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 10

JOHN $.HARKER Jam, 10, 1950 J. s. HARKER GLASS WORKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

Jan. 10, 1950 J. s. HARKER GLASS WORKING MACHINE a Sheet s-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 10, 1943 W d, Pom W E\. R. m 0 mod I\/A M $0M m ch- TR M: 2-.- EE w n VQE A I N, m H. M w NOfi \EW M @m N. 0w J IE I J in.

.115. HARKER GLASS WORKING MACHINE Jan. 10, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Sept, 10, 1 943 o l 6 111 F cgQ/Q R. Wm mm m W 3 a. N I

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 GLASSWORKING MACHINE John S. Harker, Vineland, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 10, 1943, Serial No. 501,875

6 Claims. (Cl. 497) The present invention relates to dividing and bottoming tubular glass blanks by flames directed against the blanks. More particularly the invention relates to apparatus for directing fires against glass blanks on a conveyor and for controlling or timing the application of heat to the blanks in a manner to effect a substantiaI saving in the fuel used for heating.

In one form of machine now employed to halve and bottom tubular glass blanks, lengths of glass tubing are held by annularly spaced chucks mounted on a. drum, the drum being rotated to carry successive blanks over a bank or series of burners arranged in arcuate formation concentrically with respect to the path of the chucks.

Theburners are stationary and project a multiplicity of closely spaced flames ofsubstantially constant intensity. A machine of this type is shown in the patent to Koenig No. 1,688,190, in

,Which, it will be noted, the carrier consists of rotating plates and the burners are stationary. The diameter of the chucks is considerably greater than that of the blanks. It is, therefore, obvious that the spacing between the blanks is much greater than the transverse section of a blank. Hence, the ratio of heat projected into the space between the blanks to that directed against the blanks is quite high. Obviously, a great amount of heat is wasted in this manner.

One of the objects of this invention is so to mount the burners that they travel for a limited distance at the same angular speed and concentrically with respect to the conveyors carrying the ware being heated.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism for oscillating the burners in the path referred to, the movement of the burners in a direction opposite to the travel of the ware being relatively much faster than the speed at whichthe blanks are moving.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of ware positioning mechanism permitting the chucks to engage the ware while the carrier is rotating.

A further object of the invention is to provide actuating mechanism for moving the chucks axially to permit them to engage the blanks at a predetermined position of their travel and pneumatically operated devices for closing the chucks on the ware.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 1a, taken together, constitute a side elevation ofa preferred embodiment'of the invention; f Figs. 2 and 2a,- taken together constitute a topplan view, .partly in section, of the lower'part' of the machineshown inFig.1; I

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section and. reduced, of the machine shown in Fig. 1; f

Fig. 4 is a partial fragmentary-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a partial section taken through the, carrier, one of the chucks and the actuating. mechanism therefor; Fig. 6 is a front view of one of the chucks shownin Fig. 5; Fig. 7-illustrates a development of the cam for reciprocatingthechucks, the cam being broken. at several points; i g .-.-Fig. 8 is a section through an air valvefor c6n-. trolling-reciprocation of the chucksy'.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on line 9 -9. of Fig.8; and Fig. 10 is a development of the air valve shown in Fig- 8. Referring to the drawings, the base ofthe ma chine consists of a main frame 20, sub-frame 2|, side members 22, and brackets 23. Mounted in brackets 23 are bearings 24 and housing 25 for worm 26 and worm wheel 21, the latter being fast on shaft '28. Motor 29 is supported on theside members 22 and, through speed reduction unit 3i, drives sprocket 32. The latter drives sprocket-3 through a chain 34 or equivalent flexible drive means. -Sprocket 33 and worm 26 are fast on worm shaft 35. Any suitable variable change speed mechanism may be used in the reduction unit and the speed of the worm varied by turningknob 36. Supported on the base and forwardly thereofis a hopper 31 adapted to hold a supply oftubular glass blanks with their axes extending 'pap, allel to the axis of shaft 28. The bottom of the hopper comprises rails 38 inclined d-ownwardly toward a rotary separator 39 having circumferen-- tially spaced notches 4| each adapted to accom+ modate a single blank. The blanks are deposited; by the separator on an inclined guide 42 fromwhich they roll into notches 43 in oscillatablearms 44 pivoted on shaft 28. These arms have depending arcuate extensions 45 designed to prevent the next succeeding blank from rolling o the guide when the arms are elevated. It will be seen that the conveyor or carrier comprises spaced circular plates 46, 46, free to rotate on shaft 28. The position of plate 46'- on shaft 28 is preferably stationary, but the plate 451s axially movable along the Shaft to vary the spacing of the plates to accommodate blanks of different lengths, as will be explained further hereinafter. Each of the plates carries a plurality of equally and annularly spaced chuck 41, the chucks on one plate being axially aligned with those on the opposite plate. These chucks, as will be further described, are movable toward and away from each other at certain stages during rotation of the carrier to engage as well as to stretch the blanks after the latter have been heat softened and then releaes them when they have been halved and bottomed.

Disposed between the carrier plates and pivoted for oscillation about shaft 28 are segmental plates 48, 49, 49', each carrying a plurality of burners 5|, supplied with fuel from a manifold 5| and directed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, toward blanks 52. Each of the plates carries a single row of burners but it is to be noted that plates 49, 49' are arranged side by side and that the burners on these latter plates are aligned to form pairs. The plates are connected by a bolt 53. It is to be noted that the spacing of the burners corresponds to the spacing of the chucks and that the distance between the rearmost burner and the notched positioning member is a multiple of the space between adjacent chucks.

The means foroscillating the arms 44 and the burner-carrying plates will now be described. Mounted on sub-frame 2| is a motor 54 connected to a variable speed reduction unit 55 through which sprocket 56 is driven. Sprocket 51 on cam shaft 58 is driven from sprocket 56 by chain 59. Gears 8|, B2 on shafts 58, 53, respectively, rotate shaft 63. Rocker arms 64, I55 are pivoted on shaft 66 and are connected by links 69, 61 to burner carrier 48 and arm 44, respectively. Universal joints 60 at the ends of the links permit lateral adjustment of the burners and elevator arms while the rocker arms remain stationary, as will later be explained.

Levers 69 are also pivoted on shaft 66 and are adjustably connected to arms 65, each having an arcuate slot I therein by means of screws 'II. Rocker 64 and levers 69 each has a follower I2 thereon bearing on cams I3, the latter being adjustably secured to cam plates I4 fast on shaft 58, arcuate slots I4 in plate I4 and set screws I3 on the cam permittin this adjustment. Thus, it will be seen that the arms 44 and the burner carriers are oscillated simultaneously and at the same speed. Since the machine is designed to accommodate ware of different diameters, it will be obvious that the position of the axis of the ware when deposited in the V-shaped notch 43 will vary, depending on the diameter of the blank. It is, therefore, necessary to adjust the relation of rockers 65 to rocker 69 when the machine is changed for blanks of another size. Hence the provision of the slot Ill and screw II which permits an adjustment of the angular relation of arms 65 with respect to arm 64. Reference to the shape of cam I3 will show that the rockers are elevated at a uniform rate which, by predetermined design, corresponds with the rotational speed of the chuck carriers so that in one direction the notches 43 and burners 5| are aligned and travel in an arcuate path with and at the same angular velocity as the chucks for some distance. However, immediately after the highest point of the cam passes its follower, the cam curve falls somewhat abruptly so that arms 44 and the burnercarriers return to their initial positions at a much greater speed than that at which the burners move while traveling in the same direction as the chuck carrier. It will, therefore, be obvious that, during a single oscillation of the burners, heat is directly applied to the ware for a much longer time than that which is required for the burners to return to their initial position. In the cam illustrated, the curve is so proportioned that the ratio of heat application to return movement is about '7 to 1.

As hereinbefore stated, gear 6| is fast on shaft 58 to which is also secured sprocket 15. Gear BI meshes with gear 62 on square shaft 63 to which is also secured two similar gears I6, IS, the latter being movable with carrier 46, to which yoke 8| is secured. This yoke engages collar -8I secured to gear I6 so that the gear is adjustably slidable on shaft 63 for a purpose to be described later. Gears I5, I6 in turn drive large gear wheels II which are freely rotatable on shaft 28. Sprocket I5 drives separator 39 through chain I9, sprocket I8 and gears 82, 83. Thus it will be seen that the burner carrier, the cams for elevating the were and the burners, and the separator are all rotated in timed relation.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be seen that the chucks 4'! are mounted on hollow spindles 84, one end of each of which is journaled in bearings 85. These bearings are held in housing '86 forming part of cylinder 81, the Spindle and cylinder being movable axially as a unit. Slidable in each of the spindles 84 is a second spindle 88 having a cone 89 secured to one end thereof. Piston BI is secured to the other end of the spindle. Cam

followers 92, shown as rollers, are mounted on housing 86 and engage a cam track 93, shown in development in Fig. 7, this track being fixed to the stationary main housing 94. Rollers engaging guides 96 prevent rotation of cylinder 81, the guides being bolted to gear wheels I! to provide straight line axial reciprocation of the chucks. Each of the chucks has three jaws 9'! attached to shafts 98 to which are also secured arms 99. Springs IIll normally hold arms 99 against cone 89. The chuck actuator includes cylinder 81 to which compressed air is supplied and exhausted therefrom through hose connections I02, I03 to move piston 9| in either direction. The air is controlled by an annular stationary valve I04 shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10. This valve is held to the base of the machine by upright I05 and bracket I06 so that it is non-rotatable. It will be seen from the drawings that the valve ring is provided with two parallel peripheral grooves I91, I08, which communicate with inlet and exhaust ports I09, III. Filler blocks H2 in the grooves prevent air from flowing between those portions thereof communicating respectively with the inlet and exhaust ports. A second ring I I3 secured to gear II'and rotatable therewith has a series of radial openings II4 having communication through the hose connection-s I92, 193 with opposite ends of the cylinders 81. As ring H3 is rotated, openings, I I4 register successively with the inlet and exhaust portions of grooves I91, I 08, thereby moving the cones toward and away from the end of the chucks to open or close the chuck Jaws.

In Fig. 3 it will be seen that the chucks on the lower side of the carrier are withdrawn. The cam track 93 is so designed that the chucks move in to engage the ware as they approach arm 44. This arm is elevated at a speed corresponding with the rotation of the chuck carrier gear 11. As

the chucks are aligned with the ware and move into engaging position, air is admitted to the rear access? or cylinder BI-to close the chuck jaws. The chuolm then carry the ware over the burners. In addition to their circular travel, the chuck also rotate about their axes. It will be seen that a gear H5 is secured to each of the shafts 84 and that these gears mesh with gear I I6 fast on shaft 28 which, as has been hereinbefore explained, is driven from motor 29. It is to be noted that gear H6 is relatively wide so that gear H5 is slidable along the teeththereof but are in mesh durin reciprocation of the chucks. Plates 46, 4-6 are mounted for rotation with the chucks and fit within housing 94, being guided by thrust bearings I I! on opposite sides of the plate. Plates 46, 46' carry shields H8 which serve to protect the chuck housings against dirt. Bearings I I9 in the plates support the forward end of the chuck spindles.

The machine is designed to accommodate cylindrical blanks of various lengths and diameters and, for this reason, the distance betweenv the chuck carriers may be adjusted. In the embodiment illustrated, the carrier 46 at the left in Fig. 3 is fixed in that it is not movable axially of shaft 28. Carrier 46, however, is movable toward or away from the opposite carrier. As shown in Figs. 1 and 1a, the carrier housings 94 are supported by brackets I at each side thereof. The brackets for supporting the axially movable carrier are fixed to plates I2I slidably mounted on keys I22 secured to the base. Secured to each bracket is a nut I23 with which threaded shafts I24 cooperate, and, when the latter are rotated, the brackets are moved in one or the other direction depending on the direction in which the shafts are turned. To permit simultaneous adjustment of both brackets shafts I 24 have beveled gears I25 fast thereon cooperating with similar beveled gears I25 on shaft I26. Upon turning one of the shafts I24 by a crank or other suitable means, it is evident that both shafts will be r0- tated to provide for simultaneous adjustment of both of th housing brackets. At the same time, gear I6 being movable with carrier 46, is shifted laterally along square shaft 63.

When the distance between the carrier housings is changed, it is also necessary to center and adjust the burners. For this purpose the burners are so mounted as to be moved by similarly shaped triangular uprights I28, I28 and I29. Each of the uprights I28, I28 is provided with a threaded nut portion I30 cooperating with threads I55 on shafts I3I, I32. Each upright is also provided with a threaded nut portion I30 accommodating threaded sleeves I39, I40, the latter having smooth bores to permit relative slidable movement thereof on shafts I3I, I32, respectively. Sprockets I33, I34 are fixed to shafts I3I, I32, respectively, and sprockets I4I, I42 are secured to sleeves I39, I40. Upright I29 is positioned between the sprockets I33, I34, MI, I 42. Intermediate their ends the uprights are apertured to receive threaded shafts I35, I36 to which are secured sprockets I31, I38. Chain I43 passes around sprockets I33, I31 and I 42, and chain I 44 around sprockets I34, I38 and I M. By turning shaft I3I it will be seen that sprockets I33, I31 and I42 are rotated simultaneously whereupon the threaded portion of shaft I3I and the threaded sleeve I will effect lateral adjustment of upright I28. Rotation Of shaft I32 will turn sprockets I34, I38 and I M and adjust upright I28. The position of upright I29, which cooperates with collar 44', is not changed when either or both of shafts I3I, I32 is turned. It is to be noted that the means for adjusting uprights I28, I28 are separate from each other, The purpose of having the threaded rods arranged in triangular: relation is to move the standards simultaneously at three points, thus preventin canting of the standards and possible jammin thereof. It is also desirable that all of the burners be centered as a unit. Collars I45 are, therefore, fixed to shafts I3I, I32 and a bridge I46. is mounted between these collars. The bridge is Y threaded to receive screw I41 which, on being turned, moves the bridge which, in turn, through collars I45, moves both shafts axially, carryin with them the uprights.

The adjusting uprights cooperate with annular grooves I48 in collars 44, 50 which are rotatable on shaft 28. Arm 44 and the segmental burner carriers 49, 49' are fixed respectively to collars 44" and 50. The universal joints permit these adjustments without simultaneously moving the rockers to which the connecting links are at-, tached. Subsequent adjustment of the. rockers and the appropriate cams can then be made.

When the burners have been properly centered and adjusted laterally, each burner will direct a fire on a'blank. The row of single burners first heats the blank to soften the glass. The chucks are then moved apart to halve the blank. Immee diately thereafter pairs of aligned burners direct fires on the separated halves to bottom them.

" After the ware has'been bottomed, the chucks are opened to release the blanks which drop on a chute I49 from which they roll onto a convey-or belt I50, the latter carrying them to a suitable container. The conveyor belt is driven a from shaft 58 through belts I5I I52 and countershaft I53.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be apparent that the machine is flexible in its accommodation to ware of varying diameters and lengths. The motors 29 and 54 being independent of each other, rotational speeds of the carrier and the ware rotating means may be changed to suit particular requirements and timing for blanks within a relatively wide range of dimensions. The arrangements for oscillating the burners are also important in that a substantial saving in fuel is eifected.

The various mechanisms and relation of parts shown in the drawings have been described with some particularity, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but is capable of being embodied in a variety 'of forms.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A glass-working machine of the class de scribed comprising a plurality of oppositely aligned chucks arranged to hold glass ware, :a pair of carriers for said chucks, means supporting reciprocating said chucks axially of said carriers, means for opening and closing said chucks including fluid operated actuators, and valve means operated in timed relation with said carrier for controlling the supply of fluid to said actuators.

2. A glass-working machine of the class described comprising a plurality of oppositely aligned chucks arranged to hold glass ware, a pair of carriers supporting said chucks, means for moving said carriers in a definite path, a burner unit positioned between said carriers for heating said ware, said unit comprising transversely spaced opposite burners and a burner disposed in a plan intermediate said spaced burners, said intermediate burner being spaced longitudinally of said spaced burners, said burners being positioned in" heating relation to ware held in certain of said chucks when said unit is movin in one direction or its oscillation, means for moving all of said burners as a unit transversely with respect to said carriers, and other means for varying the spaced relation of said opposite burners.

3.' A machine as claimed in claim 2 in which said other means comprises threaded rods for moving said opposite burners simultaneously in opposite directions in equal increments.

. 4. A machine as claimed in claim 2 in which said other means comprises standards cooperating with the burners, said standards each havin three threaded apertures, and three threaded rods cooperating with said apertures for moving said opposite burners simultaneously in opposite directions in equal increments.

5. A glass-working machine of the class described comprising a plurality of oppositely aligned chucks arranged to hold glass ware, a

pair of carriers supporting said chucks, means for rotating said carriers, a burner unit comprising a plurality of burner jets for heating said ware, positioning means for holding ware in alignment with said chucks, means for depositing Ware on said positioning means, and means for oscillating said unit and said positioning means simultaneously in the same direction, said burner jets being positioned in heating relation to ware held in certain of said chucks when said unit is moving in one direction of its oscillation.

8 6; A machine as claimed in claim 5 in which the ware positioning means is spaced from the burners a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between adjacent chucks. JOHN S. HARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 806,168 Morrison Dec. 5, 1905 1,322,779 Frederick et a1 Nov. 25, 1919 1,621,359 Fagan et al Mar. 15, 1927 2,002,432 Comoy .1. May 21, 1935 2,050,088 Dichter Aug. 4, 1936 2,125,017 Halberson July 26, 1938 2,227,224 Kimble et a1 Dec. 31, 1940 2,284,089 Hahn et al May 26, 1942 2,331,014 Brown Oct. 5, 1943 2,364,673 Stuckert et al Dec. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7 256,817 Germany Feb. 20, 1913 527,692 Great Britain Oct. 14, 1940 852,138 France Oct. 16, 1939 

